Electric clock



Dec. 22,. 1931. T R, ARDEN 1,838,069

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Dec. 30,' 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 22, 1931. R ARDEN 1,838,069 ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Dec. 30, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 tot l 1. RJflrclew,

48 -v Smmm;

Dec. 22,1931. .T. R ARDEN 1,833,069

I ELECTRIC CLOCK FiledDec. 50, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 T. R. ARDEN ELECTRIC CLOCK v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 50, 1950 1T Rm fdew as H 7; 1, 1 v v w Dec. 22, 1931 R ARDEN 1,838,069

ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed Dec 30, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PA N OFFICE 1 THOMAS RAYMOND ARDEN, or BALDWIN, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR 'ro AMERICAN FLYEB MANUFAGTURING'OOMPANY, or cnrcaoo, ILLINOIS, A CORPORAEPION or ILLINOIS ELECTRIC cLocx Application filed December 30, 1930. Serial No. 505,607.

This invention relates to electric clocks of the synchronous motor type, and has special reference to a' clock of this type embodying unit to be used with clock faces 01" dials of various different diameters.

Another important object ofthe invention I is to provide an alarm mechanism which may readily be rendered operative or inoperative at will and which is effective, when set to produce an alarm at any given time, to repeat the alarm at the same time each succeedmg twenty-four hours.

The present clock is of the type which re- 95 quires manual starting. That is to say, whenever the current is turned off for any reason with consequent stopping of the clock, it is necessary to manually start or initiate operation of the clock when the current is again turned on, and in this connection another important object of the invention is to provide means automatically operable to close the alarm circuit upon stopping of the clock, as for example, when the current is turned off, 3 whereby the alarm will sound when the current again is turned on, and continue to sound until the clock is started. In this way the alarm obviously servesas a warning means to indicate that resetting of the clock is nec- 40 essary.

According to the present invention, the

alarm, when set into operation during the normal operation of the clock, will continue to sound over an extendedperiod of time, unless the operation thereof is manually inter rupted, and in this connection another important object of the invention is to provide means whereby the alarm circuit, following automatic closing thereof by normal operation of the clock, may readily be opened to stop the sounding of the alarm, without disturbing the setting of the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel clock casing which may readily be disassembled to expose the operating mechanism of the clock, and isreadily assembled to enclose the operating mechanism.-

With the foregoing and various other objects in View, which will become more fully *apparent as the nature and the advantages of the invention are more fully understood,

the same consists in the various novel features of construction, and in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated iii the accom anying drawings and defined in the appen ed claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views I Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clock constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the side and back of the casing removed.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation with the back of the casing removed.

' Figure 4 is a top plan view with the side i and the back of the casing removed.

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section through the clock showing the normal relative disposition of the parts of the alarm mechanism. v

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing the relative disposition of the switch actuating parts of the alarm mechanism during sounding of the alarm.

Figure 7 is another view similar to Fig. 6 showing the. relative disposition of the switch actuating parts of the alarm mechanism upon actuation of the means for manually stopping the sounding of the alarm.

' Flgure 8 is a vertical transverse section on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section on the line-101O of Fig. 3.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the main frame element of the clock.

Figure 12 is a detail sectionon the line 12 12 of Fi 5.

Figure 13 is a similar detail section on the line 1313 of Fig. 7.

Figure 14 is a detail perspective View showing the manner of slidably non-rotatably connecting a pair of the alarm actuating elements with one another; and

Figure is a diagram of the motor and the alarm circuits.

Referring in detail to the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it will be observed that the present clock mechanism is constructed as a unit separate from the clock casing and from the. dial of the clock, and that said unit, therefore, is adapted for use with dials and casings of various different shapes and sizes.

A supporting frame for the various cooperating parts constituting the present clock mechanism unit is designated generally as A and is inclusive in the present instance of a plate 10 having forwardly extending foot formations 11 for the reception of fasteners whereby the clock mechanism unit is, as aforesaid, readily adapted to be mounted on a dial element of any desired size or shape. Side plates 12, 12 are bent to extend rearwardly from the plate 10 and these side plates are connected together at or near their rear edges by a transverse plate 13 which is dis posed parallel to the plate 10. The said side plates thus are held rigidly in spaced relation by the transverse late 13 and the. frame as an entirety is rein orced and stiffened.

A synchronous electric motor of known design is desi ated generally as B and includes essentially a stator or field element 14 and an armature or rotor 15, the field element 14 being of U-shape and having a winding 16 as is usual. The side plates 12, 12 of the frame A are provided at their rear ends with outwardly directed ears 17, and the fieldelement 14 of the motor B is rigidly mounted on said frame, at the rear thereof, by means of fasteners 18 which are passed through said field element and said ears.

Journaled in the plates 10 and 13 of the frame A is a shaft 19 which extends rearwardly through and beyond the U-shaped field element 14 of. the motor B as shown. Mounted on this shaft for rotation with respect thereto is a sleeve 20 and to this sleeve is afiixed the rotor 15. Also fixed to or formed integrally with said'sleeve is a drive pinion 21 which meshes with a spur gear 22 that is fixed to a shaft 23 carrying a worm '24. The shaft 23 is disposed parallel to the shaft 19 and, like the s aft. 19, is journaled for rotation in the plates 10 and 13 of the frame A, said shaft 23, for a purpose which will later appear, being provided at its front end with a disk 25 and, between. said disk and the plate 10, with an enlargement or drum formation 23.

Disposed below and at right angles to the shafts 19 and 23 is a shaft 26 which is journaled for rotation in the side plates 12, 12 of the frame A and which has fixed thereto a worm wheel 27 which meshes with the worm 24. Carried by the shaft 26 is a worm 28 which meshes with a worm wheel 29 that is loose on the shaft 19 but which is frictionally coupled with said shaft by means of a friction disk 30 and cooperating coil spring 31.

.That is to say, the disk '30 is fixed to the shaft 19 and the worm wheel 29 bears at one side against the adjacent face of said disk, while the spring 31 is disposed between the other side of said worm wheel and a suitable abutment, such as a collar 32, that is fixed to the shaft 19, the said spring being under compression and thereby reacting from the abut ment 32 to maintain the worm wheel in frictional driving engagement with the disk 30. Thus, while rotation of the rotor 15 obviously is effective to produce rotation of the shaft 19, it is equally obvious that said shaft is capable of being rotatably adjusted manually independently of the gear connection of said shaft with said rotor.

The shaft 19 carries the minute hand 33 of the clock, and the gear ratio between said shaft and the rotor 15 is such that said shaft makes one complete rotation during each hour of time, in which connection it is understood, of course, that the rotor 15 rotates at a fixed rate of speed as determined b the cycles of the 'alternatingcurrent employed for operating the motor B.

The hour hand 34 of the clock is carried by a sleeve 35 which is mounted on the shaft 19 for rotation with respect thereto, and there 7 is'provided a gear connection between said shaft and said sleeve whereby said sleeve is caused to complete one complete revolution for each twelve revolutions of said shaft. This gear connection comprises a spur pinion 36 fixed to the shaft 19 and meshing with a spur gear 37 fixed to a shaft 38 which is journaled in the plate 10 of the frame A, and a spur pinion 39 formed on or fixed to the shaft 38 and meshing with a spur gear 40 formed on or fixed to the sleeve 35.

The pinion' 36 constitutes an abutment on the shaft 19 engaging the rear face of the plate '10 of the frame A to prevent forward the minute hand arbor of the clock and as a support for the armature or rot 1r of the motor, since this arrangement obviously per- .mits the use of an extremely simple gear ,rotation with respect thereto. The sleeve 43 is suitably engaged over and fixed to the sleeve 20 and is provided at its outer end with a finger grip formation or knob ,44 whereby manual rotation of the sleeves 20, 43 is adapted to be effected. A coil spring 45 is engaged frictionally on the sleeve'43 and one end of this spring is suitably secured, as at 46, to the inertia weight 42, while the other end thereof is free. Thus, rotation of the sleeve 43 in one direction has a tendency to unwrap the coil spring 45 and to release the same from said sleeve 43: whereby the latter is free to turn relative to the inertia weight, while rotation of said sleeve in the opposite direction has a tendency to wrap the spring tighter thereon and thus produce rotation of the inertia weight therewith. The spring is coiled-or wound about the sleeve in the direction of rotation of the rotor 15, andthus it follows that when the sleeves 20, 43 are manually rotated by means of the knob 44 in a direction to initiate rotation of the rotor 15 in the proper direction, rotation also is imparted to the inertia weight 42, with the result that the tendency of said weight to continue rotating, when even rotation of the rotor 15 is interrupted because of the current impulses delivered thereto, soon causes the rate of rotation 'of the rotor to synchronize with the current impulses, whereupon said rotor continues to rotate as long as current is supplied to the motor. In this connection it is pointed out that the diameter of the knob 44 is such that by the, normal operation of gripping said knob between the fingers and .twirlin said knob in a normal manner, the resulting rotary speed of the rotor 15 is approximately the same as the normal rate of speed at which said'rotor turns, which is another feature of the pres ent clock conducive to quick starting of the motor thereof;

In order to provide a simple yet practical and efiicient means of lubricating the shaft 19 where the sleeve 20 rotates thereon, the knob 44 is formed hollow to receive a quantity of felt or similar absorbent material 47.

p This material surrounds the shaft 19 and is soaked with oil which is delivered to and fed along the shaft in a manner which is apparent. On the inner end of said shaft is threaded or otherwise suitably mounted a= knob 48 to facilitate rotation of said shaft in setting the clock.

While the worms 24 and 28 may be of any suitable construction, it is preferred to form these worms by the simple expedient of 10 frictionally engaging coil springs over the respective shafts 23 and 26, as this not only is quite economical in itself, but permits the use of ordinary spur gears in lieu of specially formed worm wheels for cooperation with said worms.

Referring now to the present alarm mechanism, 49 designates, generally, a solenoid which is inclusive of a winding 50 and a movable armature element 51 which is adapted to .be reciprocated by reason of current impulses in the winding 50 when said winding is energized by an alternating current. This solenoid is mounted on one of the "side plates 12 of the frame A. and a bell 52 is suitably mounted with respect to the reciprocal armature element 51 so as to be struck by the latter as the same reciprocates. 4

Mounted in an car 53 forming part of the frame A at the front thereof is a fixed contact 54, while carried by the upper end' of an arm 55 for cooperation with said fixed contact, is a movable contact 56. The lower end portion of the arm 55 extends across one side of the enlargement or drum formation 23 of the shaft 23 and has extending loosely therethrough, to either side of said shaft, a. pair of pins 57 57 which are secured to a block 58 that extends across the opposite side of said enlargement or drum formation. 1 On the free ends of said pins are threaded adjustment nuts 59, 59, respectively, and between these nuts and the adjacent face of the arm 55 are interposed coil springs 60.

which serve in an obvious manner to maintain the arm 55 frictionally engaged against the drum formation 23. The direction of rotation of the shaft 23 is counterclockwise as'viewed in Fig. 8, and since the arm 55 is disposed against the outer side of the drum 11 -mal operation of the clock. On the other 115 hand, it is apparent that because of the frictional connection of the arm 55v with the shaft 7 23, said arm is capable of being swung m a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8 at any time during rotation of said shaft in a counterclockwise direction to effect engagement of the contact 56 with the contact 54, and, moreovcr,'it will be noted that a spring 62 is suitably arranged to tend constantly to swing said arm 55 in a direction 12; i

to engage the contact 56 with the contact 54, this spring being relatively light so that the contacts 56, 54 are maintained spaced by reason of the frictional engagement of the arm 55 with the drum 23 during rotation of I) the shaft 23, but being sufiiciently strong to swing said arm to effect engagement of the contact 56 with the contact 54 should rotathat upon engagement of the contact 56 with the contact 54 the circuit of the solenoid 49 will be closed and an alarm will be sounded by reason of the solenoid plunger element 51 being reciprocated and striking the bell 52.

Referring now to the present novel means for effecting automatic closing of the alarm circuit at any desired time, it will be observed that a sleeve 67 is rotatably mounted in the plate 10 of the frame A above the shaft 19, and that this sleeve has fixed thereto a spur gear 68 which is disposed in mesh with another spur gear 69 that is fixed with respect to the gear 40, the relative diameters of said gears 68, 69 being such that the gear 68 is rotated one complete turn'during two complete revolutions of the gears 40 and 69; i. e., the sleeve 67 is rotated one complete turn during each twenty-four hours.

Extending through the sleeve 67 is a shaft 70 on the front end of which is fixed a spur gear 71 which meshes with a spur gear 72 that is rotatably mounted on the hour hand sleeve 35. On a forwardly extending hublike formation of the gear 72 is mounted the alarm set hand 73, setting of which may be effected by rotation of the shaft 70 as is apparent.

Also fixed to the shaft 70 is'a collar 74 which is journaled in the plate 13 of the frame A and through the instrumentality of which the rear end portion of said shaft is supported by said frame, forward movement of said shaft being prevented by a flange on said collar engaging the rear face of said plate 13, and rearward movement of said shaft being prevented by engagement of the hub of the gear 71 with the gear 68, which latter is disposed against the frontface of the plate 10.

The sleeve 67 extends a suitable distance rearwardly beyond the plate 10 and near its rear end has formed therein, at diametrically opposite points in the outer face thereof, a pair of transverse grooves 75, 75. Also formed either integrally with said sleeve, or.

separate therefrom and suitably fixed thereto, is a disk 76 from the rear face of which projects a lug 77..

A sleeve 78 for cooperation with the sleeve 67 is slidably engaged at its forward end over the rear end portion of said sleeve 67 and at its rear end is slidably enga ed on the shaft 70. This sleeve 78 is suitably splined at its rear end to the collar 74 whereby 'it is longitudinally slidable but non-rotatable relative to said collar and said shaft 70, and at its forward end carries a disk 79 having an annular forwardly extending marginal flange 80 in which is formed a notch 81 to receive the lug 77 of the disk 76.

A transverse, horizontal shaft 82 is journaled at its ends in the side plates 12, 12 of the frame A, and on this shaft is mounted a plate 83 for forward and backward rocking movement, said plate 83 extending upward from said shaft 82 and having portions thereof disposed in an annular groove 84 formed in the sleeve 78 whereby sliding movement of said sleeve is adapted to rock said plate and whereby rocking movement of said plate is adapted to effect sliding movement of said I sleeve. v

A pin 85 is mounted at its forward end in a top portion of the front plate 10 of the frame A and extends rearward loosely through an opening in the pla-te 83;and at or near its rear end carries an abutment 86 betw: en which and the rear face of the plate 83 is interposed a light coil spring 87 which tends constantly to rock the plate 83 for-.

wardly,

Projecting laterally and forwardly from the plate 83 is a finger 88 which extends across the switch arm 55 and is noi mally spaced slightly therefrom, but which is adapted, upon a certain amount of forward rocking movement of the plate 83, to engage said switch arm and to exert a cam or wedging action thereon to swing the upper end of the same toward the fixed contact 54:, thus to engage the contact 56 with the contact 54 and close the alarm circuit.

Carried by the disk 79 is a U-shaped spring 89 the arms 90, '90 of which contact normally with the outer face of the sleeve 67 at diametrically opposite points thereon and have a constant tendency to spring inward, whereby, when said arms become alined with the grooves 75,75 in said sleeve 67, they are adapted to spring into said grooves.

The grooves 75, 75 extend transversely across the sleeve 67 in a direction at right angles to a radial line passing through the lug 77 of the disk 76, while the arms 90, 90

of the sp ring'89 extend transversely across the disk 7 9v in a direction at right angles to a radial line passing through the notch 81 'in the disk 79. Consequently, assuming that the arms 90, 90 of thespring 89 are disposed in the sametransverse plane as the grooves 75, 75, it is apparent that said spring arms will snap into said grooves when, by relative rotation of the sleeves 67 and 78, the lug 77 and the notch 81 are alined or approximately alined. with one another, and that when said spring arms are disposed in said grooves, relative rotation between the sleeves disposed at an angle of ninety degrees or apthe normal position of the proximately ninety degrees a art.

With the clock in norma operation and the contact 56 spaced from the contact 54, plate 83 and the sleeves 67, 78 is as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. That is to say, the lug 7 7 and the notch 81 are disalined wlth respect to one another, the sleeve 78 is held against being moved forward under the influence of the spring 87 by engagement of the forward edge of the flange 80 with the lug 7 7 and the spring arms 90, 90 are disposed 1n embracing relation to thesleeve 67 forwardly of the grooves 75, 75 in said sleeve. Now, since the plate 83 must rock forwardly from itsforegoing position in order to permit the finger 88 of said plate to-engage with and movethe switch arm 55 to engage the contact 56 with the contact 54 to close the alarm circuit, and since said plate 83 is held against forward movement by the engagement of the forward edge of the flange 80 with the the lug 77, it follows that the angular position of the disk 79 determines the time when the alarm circuit will automatically be, closed, as the sleeve and disk 78-79 and consequently the plate 83 may move forward only when the lug 7 7 by rotation of the disk 76, comes into .aline ment with the notch 81 in the disk 79, it being understood, of course, that-the combined sleeve'and'disk 7879 is not rotatable except manually to effect setting of the alarm, i. e., to predetermine the time when the alarm shall begin to sound. e

By following through the train of gearing between the motor B and the sleeve 67 ,it will be noted that said sleeve and the disk 76 carried thereby rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of the clock. There:

.fore, due to the frictional engagement of the lug 77 of said disk with the forward ed e of the flange 80 of the disk 79, rotation of t e disk 76 obviously tends to effect rotation of the disk 79 therewith. If the disk 79 moved i with the disk 76 the lug 77 would never become alin'ed with the notch 81 and forward rocking movement of the plate 83 could never take place. It is essential, therefore, that the sleeve and disk 7879 be held against rotation by the disk 76 and it is e ually essential that said sleeve and disk 7 8 9 be rotatably viewed that any tendency of the shaft to rotate in a rear of the clock whereby said shaft is held efl'ectivel against clockwise rotation as rom the rear because of the fact clockwise direction results in tendency of the wire coil to wrap ti htly on the shaft and bind thereagainst. 6n the other hand, the shaft is more or less freely "rotatable in the opposite direction because this tends to unwrap the wire coil and to release the frictional grip of the coil on the shaft. Moreover, in this connection, it will be observed that the thumb nut 92 that is provided on the rear end of the shaft for efl'ecting rotative adjustments of said shaft, is connected with said shaft by a left-hand thread, so that any effort to rotate said shaft in a right-hand direction by means of said nut will'simply result in the nut being disengaged from the shaft.

To mount the clock'mechanism on a dial 93 of any desired size or shape, the ears 11 of the frame A are disposed against the rear face of the dial and screws or other suitable fasteners 94 are passed through apertures in clock .face indicia, but, as will be understood, 7

this indicia may. be carried by a sheet of paper or thelike pasted or otherwise suitably secured against the outer face of th dial.

The shaft 19, the sleeve 35 and the hu poi tion of the gear 72 extend through a central opening in the dial and the minute and hour and alarm set hands 33, 34 and 73 are mounted on said shaft, sleeve and hub portion, respectively, at the front side of the dial as is, of course, understood.

By reason of the dished form of the dial element 93, the dial portion proper thereof is disposed rearwardly of a lateral flange 95 defining the front portion thereof, whereby a recess or chamber is afforded between the front and rear portionsof the dial for the accommodation of the hands 33, 34 and 73.

The clock casingpreferably is constructed of sheet metal and is inclusive'of a base 96, a front finishing plate 97, a rear closure plate 98 having apertures through which the shafts 19 and 70 extend, whereby the finger grip elements 44, 48 and 92 are accessible from the rear of the casing, and a one-piece side plate 99. The base 96 is-provided with slots 100 to receive fingers 101 on the bottom edges of the front, .rear and side plates, and the front and rear plates are provided with in- .Wardly opening marginal grooves 102 to receive the front and rear edge portions of .the side plate, respectively.

The front plate is provided with a relatively large opening whereby the dial 93 and the hands of the clock are visible, and the flange 95 of the dial 93 is disposed against the rear face of said front plate in surrounding relation to the opening therein as shown, the clock mechanism as an entirety being assembled with the front plate by suitable clamps 103 connected by screws or other fasteners with the front plate and engaging the rear face of the flange 95. Between the inner edge portion of the flange 95 and the marginal portion of the front plate suitrounding the opening therein, is disposed a sheet of glass or other transparent material 104 which serves as a closure toprotect the hands of the clock and to exclude dust from the dial.

Carried by and extending rearwardly from the front plate 97, above the dial 93, is member 105 which is of tubular formation at its front end and which is provided with a threaded lug formation 106 at its rear end, and which, intermediately, is provided with a slot or opening 107 in which is disposed an upward extension 108 of the rock-plate 83.

In assembling the casing elements 97,. 98 and 99 with the base plate 96, the front plate first is assembled with the base plate by engaging the fingers 101 of said front plate in the slots 100 at the front of the base plate, the side plate 99 then is placed in position with its front edge disposed in the groove 102 of the front plate and with its fingers 6' 101 engaged in related slots 100 in the base plate, and the rear plate 98 then is placed in position with its groove 102 receiving the rear edge of the side plate. A screw memher 106 then is passed through an opening in the rear plate into threaded engagement with the lug 106 of the member to draw the front and rear plates into clamping engagement with the side plate and the casing elements thus are secured in firm assembly with one another.

In the front tubular portion of the member 105 is slidably mounted a pin or rod 109,

the front end of which extends through the front plate 97 and is equipped with a button for finger manipulation, and the rear end of which is disposed for engagement with the upward extension 108 of the rock-plate 83. This rod 109 carries a radial pin 111, and

' the member 105 has a shoulder 112 behind inoperative by a simple manipulation of said rod 109.

On the face of the dial 93 is a circular scale element 113 which is divided into twenty-four main divisions representing the twenty-four hours of a day, twelve oclock noon being indicated at the top of said scale element, twelve oclocl: midnight being in dicated at the bottom of said scale element, and the numerals 1 to 11 being provided intermediate said noon and midnight indications, reading, respectively, downward from the right of the noon indication and upward from the left of the midnight indication, P. M. time being indicated by the left-hand half of the scale element and A. M. time being indicated by the righthand half of the scale element. The alarm set hand cooperates with this scale element 113, and since the disk 76 completes only one-half of a complete revolution for a complete revolution of the hour hand 34, it follows that means must be provided as a guide for setting the alarm mechanism so that the alarm will not sound at a P. M. hour when it is intended to set the alarm to sound at an A. M. hour, and vice-versa. In this connection it will be observed that the dial 93 is provided with a hole 114 and that the gear wheel 71 also is provided with a hole, 115, for registration with the hol. 114 once during each complete revolution of said gear wheel. The hole 115 in the gear wheel is disposed diametrically opposite the notch 81 in the disk 79, and when the hole in the gear wheel is alined with the hole in the dial, the alarm set hand 73 points to the twelve oclock noon indication of the scale 113, which is always true due to the one-to-one gear ratio between the gears 71, 72. -On the front face of the gear wheel 68 is an index element 116 which preferably takes the form of a spot of red paint or the like, and this index element is so positioned on said gear wheel 68 as to be visible through the alined holes 114, 115, only when the hands of the clock indicate twelve oclock and the lug 77 is alined or substantially alined with the notch 81. Thus, by setting the alarm set hand to point to twelve oclock noon, and by then setting the hands of the clock to point to twelve oclock noon with the index element 116 visible through the alined holes 114, 115, a starting point is had from which the alarm set hand may be adjusted with assurance that the alarm will sound according to P. M. or A. M. time erroneous adjustment of the disk 79 to permit the alarm to sound at a P. M. hour for be disposed either in alinement with the notch 81 or diametrically opposite said notch when the clock hands indicate twelve oclock and the alarm set hand points .to twelve oclock noon. In view of the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the alarm mechanism will be clearly understood. Assuming that the motor B is in operation and that the movable contact 56 is held spacedfrom the contact 54- by reason of the frictional engagement of the enlargement 23 of the shaft 23 on the switch arm as heretofore explained, and that the lug 77 and the notch 81 are disalined, with the front edge of the flange 80 of the disk 79 disposed against the lug 77 and being urged forwardly thereagainst by the spring 87 acting through the plate 83, (Fig. 5) it will be observed that under these conditions the U-shaped spring 82 carried by the disk 79 is disposed forwardly of the grooves 75, 75 in the sleeve 67 -so that the sleeve and disk 7879 are free to move forward under the ihfluence of the spring 87 when the lug 77 moves into alinement with the notch 81. Thus, when the lug 77 moves into alineinent with the notch 81, the rock-plate 8.3 is swung forward by the spring 86 (Fig. 6) and automaticclosing of the alarm circuit is effected by reason of the consequent engagement of the finger 88 of the rock-plate with the switch arm 55 and the resulting swinging movement of said switch arm in a direction to vbring the contact 56 thereof into engagement with the contact 54. Upon closing of the alarm circuit, the alarm begins'to operate and willlcontinue to operate over a considerable period of time, unless manually stopped, as determined by the amount of angular movement of the disk 76 which is necessary to disaline the 111g 7 7 from the notch 81 and to force the disk 79 rearwardly to its initial position, it being ointed out in this-connection that the lug 7 and the notch 81 are of wedge shape so that continued rotation of the disk 76 when the lug 77 thereof is disposed in the notch 81, will'result in the disk 79 being forced rearwardly.

As has previously been mentioned, the arms 90, 90 of the spring 89-extend in the same direction as the grooves 75, in the sleeve 67 when the lug 77 and the notch 81 are alined.

Consequently, if the combined sleeve and disk 7 8-79 is shifted rearwardly a suflicient amount to aline the spring arms 90 90 with the grooves 75, 75 in the sleeve67 following forward, alarm circuit closing movement of said sleeve and disk 7 8-7 9 while the lug 77 desired to use the clock without and the notch 81 are alined or approximately alined with one another, the said spring arms will snap into said grooves (Fig.7) and the rock-plate '83 will thus be latched in a rearwardly swung position in which the finger 88 thereof is removed from the'switch arm 55. And since said switch arm will be swung by its frictional engagement with the enlargement 23 of the shaft 23 to disengage the contact 56 from the contact 54 immediate-- 1y following removal of the finger 88 from said switch arm, it follows .that after the alarm begins to sound the same may be stopped manually simply by pressing the plate 83 rearwardly and without affecting the capability of the alarm mechanism to again produce an alarm at the same hour during the next twenty-four hour period, since continued rotation of the sleeve 67 obviously, will result, after the elapse of a certain amount of time during which the lug 77 has become disforward under the influence of the spring 87 to its initial position-with the forward edge of the flange thereof in engagement with the lug 77 in readiness to move farther foralined from the notch 81, in the spring arms ward to effect automatic closing of the alarm circuit when the lug 77 again i alines with the notch 81. Thus, following automatic closing of the alarm circuit, and if sounding of the alarm is not manually stopped as just described, the alarm may continue to sound OXGI' an extendedperiod of time, whereupon itwill automatically stop while on the other hand, it is obvious that the sounding of the alarm may be manually stopped at any time during the normal alarm period.

The rod 109 affords means for effecting inward movement of the plate 83 to cut off the alarm, in which connection it is pointed out that the pinlll carried by said rod is engaged behind the shoulder 112 only when it is desired to lock the vplate 83 against forward movement as, for example, when it is using the alarm mechanism thereof.

In order that a person may readily ascer- I tain at a glance whether the clock is operating, the front face of the disk 25 on the shaft 23 may be variably colored, and an opening 118 may be formed in the dial 93 through which the front face of said disc is visible, the passage of the differently colored portions of said disk across the opening in the dial affording a ready means of determining whether the shaft 23 is rotating.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and-it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an electric clock, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch and an electric alarm device, movable clock operated means operable by movement thereof to hold said switch normally open, clock operated means for closing said switch during operation of the clock and against the tendency of said first mentioned meansto hold the switch open, and means for adjusting said last named means to predeterminc the time of closing of said circuit by operation of the clock.

2. In an electric clock, a synchronous motor of the type requiring manual starting, a motor circuit, an alarm circuit connected with the motor circuit and inclusive of a switch and an electric alarm device, means whereby operation of the motor maintains said switch normally open, means operable automatically to close said switch upon stopping of the motor, clock operated means for closing said switch during operation of the motor, and means for adjusting said last named means to predetermine the time of closing of said switch by operation of the clock.

3. In an electric clock, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch and an electric alarm device, movable clock operated means operable by movement thereof to hold said switch normally open, and means operable by the clock to temporarily close said switch once only and at the same time during each successiveperiod of twenty-four hours.

4. In an electric clock, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch and an electric alarm device, movable clock operated means operable by movement thereof to hold said switch normally open, means operable by the clock to temporarily close said switch once only and at the same time during each successive period of twenty-four hours, and means for adjusting said last named means to predetermine the time of closing of the switch.

5. In an electric clock, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch and an electric alarm device, movable clock operated means operable by movement thereof to maintain said switch normally open, means operable by the clock to temporarily close said switch at predetermined times, means for manually moving said second mentioned means to a switch reated by the clock to close the switch at a predetermined time.

6. In an electric clock a rotatable member, an electric alarm device, a switch in controlling relation to said alarm device, said switch being inclusive of a fixed contact and a movable contact, means constantly tending to move said movable contact into engagement with said fixed contact to close the alarm circuit, and a friction connection between said movable contact and said rotatable member whereby rotation of the latter maintains the switch normally open during operation of the clock.

7. In a clock, a cloclr mechanism, an electric alarm device, a switch in controlling relation to said alarm device, means responsive to movement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open, a.

member movable to effect closing of said switch during movement of said part of said clock mechanism, means tending constantly to so move said member, restraining means for said member and clock operated means in controlling relation to said restraining means.

8. In a clock, a clock mechanism, an elec tric alarm device, a switch in controlling relation to said alarm device, means responsive to movement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open, a pair of rotatable members one of which is connected with the clock mechanism to be retated thereby during operation of the clock and the other of which is manually rotatably adjustable and mounted for axial movement relative to the first member, cooperating lug and recess formations on said members which, when disalined, limit axial movement of the second mentioned member toward the first mentioned member and which, when alined, permit axial movement of said second mentioned member toward said first member, and a switch closing element controlled by said second mentioned member.

9. In a clock, a clock mechanism, an electric alarm device, a switch in controlling relation to said alarm device, means responsive to movement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open, a pair of rotatable members one of which is connected with the clock mechanism to be r0- tated thereby during operation of the clock and the other of which is manually rotatably adjustable and mounted for axial movement relative to the first member, cooperating lug and recess formations on said members which, when disalined, limit axial movement of the second mentioned member toward the first mentioned member and which, when alined, permit axial movement of said second mentioned member toward said first member, a switch closing element controlled by said sec ond mentioned member, means tending contill stantly to move said second mentioned member axially toward said first mentioned member, and means for latching said second mentioned member against axial movement toward said first mentioned member when the lug and recess formations of said members are alined with one another.

10. In a clock, a clock mechanism, an electric alarm device, a switch in controlling relation to said alarm device, means responsive to movement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open, a pair of rotatable members one of which is con nected with the clock mechanism to be rotated thereby during operation of the clock and the other of which is manually rotatably adjustable and mounted for axial movement relative to the first member, cooperating lug and recess formations on said members which, when disalined, limit axial movement of. the

second mentioned member toward the first mentioned member and which, when alined, permit axial movement of said second mentioned member toward said first member, means tending constantly to move said second mentioned member toward said first member, a switch closing element controlled by said second member, an alarm set hand, and a connection between said second mentioned member and said alarm set hand whereby rotation of said second mentioned member effects adj ustment of said alarm set hand.

11. In a clock, a clock mechanism, an electric alarm device, a'switch in controlling re-' lation to said alarm device, means responslve tomovement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open, a pair of rotatable members one of which is connected with the clock mechanism to be rotated thereby during operation of the clock and the other of which is manually rotatably adjustable and mounted for axial movement relative to the first member, cooperating lug and recess formations on said members which, when disalined, limit axial movement of the second mentioned member toward the first mentioned member and which, when alined, permit axial movement of said second mentioned member toward said first member, a switch closing element controlled by said second mentioned member, means tending constantly to move said second mentioned member axially toward said first mentioned member, means for releasably latching first mentioned member when the lug and recess formations of said members are alined with one another, and means whereby a pre said second mentioned "member against axial movement toward said to maintain said switch normally open, a pair of rotatable members one of which is connectedwith the clock mechanism to be rotated thereby during operation of the clock and the other of which is manually rotatably adjustable and mounted for axial movement relative to the first member, cooperating lug and recess formations on said members which, when vdisalined, limit axial movement of the second mentioned member toward the first mentioned member and which, when alined, permit axial movement of said second mentioned member toward said first member, a switch closing element controlled by said second mentioned member, and manually operable means for locking said switch closing element against ing movement of said first mentioned means,

and means constantly tending to close said switch and efiective upon stopping of the clock to close said switch.

15. In an electric clock, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch, rotatable clock 0 erated means operable by rotation thereo to maintain said switch normally 0 en, and

clock controlled means for closing said switch during rotation of said first mentioned means.

16. In an electric clock, a clock mecha-' nism, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch, means whereby rotation of a part of the clock mechanism maintains said switch normally open during operation of the clock mechanism, clock operated means for closing said switch, during rotation of said first mentioned means, and means effective upon stoppin of the clock to close said switch.

1 In an electric clock, a clock mechanism, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch, means whereby movement of a part of the clock mechanism 'maintains said switch normally open, and clock operated means effective to temporarily close said switch at a predeter mined time and to repeat temporary closing of said switch once only and'at thesame time during each succeeding period of twentyfour hours duringcontinuous operation of the clock.

'18. In an electric clock, a clock mechanism, an alarm circuit inclusive of a switch, friction meansrenderedefiectivebymovement of a part of the. clock mechanism to maintain said switch normally open during normal operation of the clock, and clock operated means for closing said switch,

19. In an electric clock, a clock mechanism, an alarm circuit inclusive of a circuit closer, friction means rendered effective by movement of a part of the clock mechanism to maintain said circuit closer normally open during normal operation of the clock, clock operated means for closing said circuit closer ,at a predetermined time, and means, constantly tending to close said circuit closer whereby upon the current to the clock being out ed with consequent stopping of the cloclr the alarm circuit is closed to be energized when current again is supplied to the clock.

20. In an electric clock, a clock mechanism, an alarm circuit, a switch in said alarm circuit inclusive oi? a fixed contact and a movable contact, friction means whereby movement of a part of the clock mechanism maintains said movable contact normally spaced from said fixed contact, and clock controlled means tor'rnoving said movable contact into engagement with said fined contact against the action of said I'EKiC ion means.

21;, In an electric clock, a cinch mecha nism, an alarm circuit, a switch said alarm circuit inclusive of fined and movable contacts, means responsive to movement oi a part of the clock mechanism during normal operation of the clock to hold said movable contact spaced from said fixed contact, means constantly tendmg to move said movable contact into engagement with said contact flllflEfiGUtlVQ upon stopping of cloclr to move said movable contact into en gagement with said fixed contact to close the circuit, and clock controlled means effective during normal operation of the clock to overcome the means holding said movable contact spaced from said lined contact and to move the former contact into engagement with the latter contact.

22. an electric 'cloclr, clock mecha nism, an alarm circuit, a single normally open switch in said circuit, means responsive to operation of the cloclr to maintain said switch normally open during operation of the clock, means constantly tending to close said switch and efiective to do so upon stopping of the clock, and other means under the control of the clock mechanism and of fective during operation thereof to close said switch against the action of said first mentioned means.

23. In an electric clock, a clock mecha-.

by said second mentioned means and to maintain said switch open without afiecting the capability of said second mentioned means to close said switch at a predetermined time during continued operation of the clock.

24. An automatically repeating electrical alarm clock including an electrically actuated alarm device, an electrical operating circuit therefor, a circuit-closing device included in said circuit, time-controlled mech anism for closing thecircuit closing device and repeating such operation automatically at predetermined time intervals, and means for automatically closing the said circuit closing device upon stoppage of the current supply.

In testimony whereof ll hereunto afiin my signature.

TH OMAS RAYMOND ARDEN.

lOh' 

